ACT THIRD.

Bernick.

Well, well, what is the matter with you?

Rörlund.

I must ask you a question, Consul Bernick. Is it with your consent that the young girl who has found an asylum under your roof shows herself in the public streets in company with a person whom——

Lona.

What person, Pastor?

Rörlund.

With the person from whom, of all others in the world, she should be kept furthest apart.

Lona.

Ho-ho!

Rörlund.

Is it with your consent, Consul?

Bernick.

I know nothing about it. [Looking for his hat and gloves.] Excuse me; I am in a hurry; I am going up to the Trade Council.

Hilmar.

[Enters from the garden and goes over to the second door to the left.] Betty, Betty, come here!

Mrs. Bernick.

[In the doorway.] What is it?

Hilmar.

You must go down the garden and put a stop to the flirtation a certain person is carrying on with Miss Dina Dorf. It has made me quite nervous to listen to it.

Lona.

Indeed? What did the person say?

Hilmar.

Oh, only that he wants her to go with him to America. Ugh!

Rörlund.

Can such things be possible!

Mrs. Bernick.

What do you say?

Lona.

Why, that would be capital.

Bernick.

Impossible! You must have misunderstood him.

Hilmar.

Then ask him himself. Here come the couple. Only don’t drag me into the business.

Bernick.

[ToRummelandVigeland.] I shall follow you—in a moment——

[RummelandVigelandgo out to the right.Johan TönnesenandDinacome in from the garden.

Johan.

Hurrah, Lona, she’s coming with us!

Mrs. Bernick.

Oh, Johan—how can you!

Rörlund.

Can this be true? Such a crying scandal? By what vile arts have you——?

Johan.

What, what, man? What are you saying?

Rörlund.

Answer me, Dina: is this your intention?—deliberately formed, and of your own free will?

Dina.

Imustget away from here.

Rörlund.

But withhim—withhim!

Dina.

Tell me of any one else that has courage to set me free?

Rörlund.

Then you shall know who he is.

Johan.

Be silent!

Bernick.

Not a word more!

Rörlund.

Then I should ill serve the community over whose manners and morals it is my duty to keep watch; and I should act most indefensibly towards this young girl, in whose training I have borne an important share, and who is to me——

Johan.

Take care what you are doing!

Rörlund.

Sheshallknow it! Dina, it was this man who caused all your mother’s misfortune and shame.

Bernick.

Rector——!

Dina.

He! [ToJohan.] Is this true?

Johan.

Karsten, doyouanswer!

Bernick.

Not a word more! Not a word moreto-day!to-day!

Dina.

Then it is true.

Rörlund.

True, true! And more than that. This person, in whom you were about to place your trust, did not run away empty-handed—Mrs. Bernick’s strong-box—the Consul can bear witness!

Lona.

Liar!

Bernick.

Ah——!

Mrs. Bernick.

Oh God! oh God!

Johan.

[Goes towards him with uplifted arm.] You dare to——!

Lona.

[Keeping him back.] Don’t strike him, Johan.

Rörlund.

Yes, yes; assault me if you like. But the truth shall out; and this is the truth. Consul Bernick has said so himself; it is notorious to the whole town.—Now, Dina, now you know him.

[A short pause.

Johan.

[Softly seizingBernick’sarm.] Karsten, Karsten, what have you done?

Mrs. Bernick.

[Softly, in tears.] Oh, Karsten, that I should bring all this shame upon you!

Sandstad.

[Enters hastily from the right, and says, with his hand still on the door-handle.] You must really comenow, Consul! The whole railway is hanging by a thread.

Bernick.

[Absently.] What is it? What am I to——?

Lona.

[Earnestly and with emphasis.] You are to rise and support society, brother-in-law!

Sandstad.

Yes, come, come; we need all your moral predominance.

Johan.

[Close to him.] Bernick, we two will talk of this to-morrow.

[He goes out through the garden;Bernickgoes out to the right withSandstad,as if his will were paralysed.

ACT THIRD.

The garden-room inConsul Bernick’shouse.

Bernick,with a cane in his hand, enters, in a violent passion, from the second room on the left, leaving the door half open.

Bernick.

There, now! At last I’ve done it in earnest; I don’t think he’ll forget that thrashing. [To some one in the other room.] What do you say?—Isay you are a foolish mother! You make excuses for him, and encourage him in all his naughtiness——Not naughtiness? What do you call it then? To steal out of the house at night and go to sea in a fishing-boat; to remain out till late in the day, and put me in mortal terror, as if I hadn’t enough anxiety without that. And the young rascal dares to threaten me with running away! Just let him try it!—You? No, I daresay not; you don’t seem to care much what becomes of him. I believe if he were to break his neck——! Oh, indeed? But it happens thatIneed some one to carry on my work in the world; it would not suit me to be left childless. Don’t argue, Betty; I have said it, once for all; he is not to leave the house. [Listens.] Hush, don’t let people notice anything.

Krapcomes in from the right.

Krap.

Can you spare me a moment, Consul.

Bernick.

[Throws away the cane.] Of course, of course Have you come from the shipyard?

Krap.

Just this moment. H’m——

Bernick.

Well? Nothing wrong with thePalm Tree, I hope?

Krap.

ThePalm Treecan sail to-morrow, but——

Bernick.

TheIndian Girl, then? I might have guessed that that stiff-necked——

Krap.

TheIndian Girlcan sail to-morrow, too; but—I don’t think she will get very far.

Bernick.

What do you mean?

Krap.

Excuse me, Consul, that door is ajar, and I think there is some one in the room——

Bernick.

[Shuts the door.] There then. But what is the meaning of all this secrecy?

Krap.

It means this: I believe Aune intends to send theIndian Girlto the bottom, with every soul on board.

Bernick.

Good heavens! how can you think——?

Krap.

I can explain it in no other way, Consul.

Bernick.

Well then, tell me as shortly as you can——

Krap.

I will. You know how things have been dragging in the yard since we got the new machines and the new inexperienced workmen?

Bernick.

Yes, yes.

Krap.

But this morning, when I went down there, I noticed that the repairs on the American had been going at a great rate. The big patch in her bottom—the rotten place, you know——

Bernick.

Yes, yes; what about it?

Krap.

It wascompletelycompletelyrepaired—to all appearance; plastered up; looked as good as new. I heard that Aune himself had been working at it by lantern-light the whole night through.

Bernick.

Yes, yes, and then——?

Krap.

I was a good deal puzzled. It happened that the workmen were at breakfast, so I could ferret about as I pleased, both outside and inside. It was difficult to get down into the hold, among the cargo; but I saw enough to convince me. There is rascality at work, Consul.

Bernick.

I can’t believe it, Mr. Krap. I cannot and will not believe such a thing of Aune.

Krap.

I’m sorry for it, but it’s the simple truth. There is rascality at work, I say. Not a stick of new timber had been put in, so far as I could see. It was only plugged and puttied up, and covered with plates and tarpaulins, and so forth. All bogus! TheIndian Girlwill never get to New York. She’ll go to the bottom like a cracked pot.

Bernick.

Why, this is horrible! What do you think can be his motive?

Krap.

He probably wants to bring the machines into discredit; wants to revenge himself; wants to have the old workmen taken on again.

Bernick.

And for that he would send all these men to their death?

Krap.

He has been heard to say that the crew of theIndian Girlare brute beasts, not men.

Bernick.

Yes, yes, that may be; but does he not think of the great loss of capital?

Krap.

Aune is not over-fond of capital, Consul.

Bernick.

True enough; he is an agitator and mischief-maker; but such a piece of villainy as this——.I’ll tell you what, Mr. Krap: this affair must be looked into again. Not a word of it to any one. Our yard would lose its reputation if this came to people’s ears.

Krap.

Of course, but——

Bernick.

During the dinner-hour you must go down there again; I must have absolute certainty.

Krap.

You shall, Consul. But, excuse me, what will you do then?

Bernick.

Why, report the case of course. We cannot be accessories to a crime. I must keep my conscience clear. Besides, it will make a good impression on both the press and the public, to see me disregard all personal interests, and let justice take its course.

Krap.

Very true, Consul.

Bernick.

But, first of all, absolute certainty—and, until then, silence.

Krap.

Not a word, Consul; and you shall have absolute certainty.

[He goes out through the garden and down the street.

Bernick.

[Half aloud.] Horrible! But no, it’s impossible—inconceivable!

[As he turns to go to his own roomHilmar Tönnesenenters from the right.

Hilmar.

Good-day, Bernick! Well, I congratulate you on your field-day in the Trade Council yesterday.

Bernick.

Oh, thank you.

Hilmar.

It was a brilliant victory, I hear; the victory of intelligent public spirit over self-interest and prejudice—like a French razzia upon the Kabyles. Strange, that after the unpleasant scene here, you——

Bernick.

Yes, yes, don’t speak of it.

Hilmar.

But the tug-of-war is yet to come.

Bernick.

In the matter of the railway, you mean?

Hilmar.

Yes. I suppose you have heard of the egg that our editor-friend is hatching?

Bernick.

[Anxiously.] No! What is it?

Hilmar.

Oh, he has got hold of the rumour that’s floating about, and is coming out with an article on the subject.

Bernick.

What rumour?

Hilmar.

Why, about the great buying-up of property along the branch line, of course.

Bernick.

What do you mean? Is there any such rumour about?

Hilmar.

Yes, over the whole town. I heard it at the club. They say that one of our lawyers has been secretly commissioned to buy up all the forests, all the mining rights, all the water-power——

Bernick.

And is it known for whom?

Hilmar.

They thought at the club that it must be for a syndicate from some other town that had got wind of your scheme, and had rushed in before the prices rose. Isn’t it disgraceful? Ugh!

Bernick.

Disgraceful?

Hilmar.

Yes, that outsiders should trespass on our preserves in that way. And that one of our own lawyers could lend himself to such a transaction! Now all the profit will go to strangers.

Bernick

But this is only a vague rumour.

Hilmar.

People believe it, at any rate; and to-morrow or next day you may look for some editorial comments on the fact. Every one is indignant about it already. I heard several people say that if this rumour is confirmed they will strike their names off the lists.

Bernick.

Impossible!

Hilmar.

Indeed? Why do you think these peddling creatures were so ready to join you in your undertaking? Do you think they weren’t themselves hankering after——?

Bernick.

Impossible, I say; there is at least so much public spirit in our little community——

Hilmar.

Here? Oh yes, you are an optimist, and judge others by yourself. But I am a pretty keen observer, and I tell you there is not a person here—except ourselves, of course—notone, I say, that holds high the banner of the ideal. [Up towards the back.] Ugh, there they are!

Bernick.

Who?

Hilmar.

The two Americans. [Looks out to the right.] And who is that with them? Why, it’s the captain of theIndian Girl. Ugh!

Bernick.

What can they want withhim?

Hilmar.

Oh, it’s very appropriate company. They say he has been a slave-dealer or a pirate; and who knows what that couple have turned their hands to in all these years.

Bernick.

I tell you, such innuendoes are utterly unjust.

Hilmar.

Yes, you are an optimist. But here we have them upon us again of course; so I shall get away in time.

[Goes towards the door on the left.

Lona Hesselenters from the right.

Lona.

What, Hilmar, am I driving you away?

Hilmar.

Not at all, not at all. I really oughtn’t to have been wasting time here; I have something to say to Betty.

[Goes out by the second door on the left.

Bernick.

[After a short pause.] Well, Lona?

Lona.

Well?

Bernick.

What do you think of me to-day?

Lona.

The same as yesterday; a lie more or less——

Bernick.

I must clear all this up. Where has Johan gone to?

Lona.

He will be here directly; he is talking to a man outside there.

Bernick.

After what you heard yesterday, you can understand that my whole position is ruined if the truth comes to light.

Lona.

I understand.

Bernick.

Of course I need not tell you thatIwas not guilty of the supposed crime.

Lona.

Of course not. But who was the thief?

Bernick.

There was no thief. There was no money stolen; not a halfpenny wasmissing.missing.

Lona.

What?

Bernick.

Not a halfpenny, I say.

Lona.

But the rumour? How did that shameful rumour get abroad, that Johan——?

Bernick.

Lona, I find I can talk to you as I can to no one else; I shall conceal nothing from you.Ihad my share in spreading the rumour.

Lona.

You! And you could do this wrong to the man who, for your sake——?

Bernick.

You must not condemn me without remembering how matters stood at the time. As I told you yesterday, I came home to find my mother involved in a whole series of foolish undertakings. Disasters of various kinds followed; all possible ill-luck seemed to crowd in upon us; our house was on the verge of ruin. I was half recklessand half in despair. Lona, I believe it was principally to deaden thought that I got into that entanglement which ended in Johan’s going away.

Lona.

H’m——

Bernick.

You can easily imagine that there were all sorts of rumours in the air after you two had left. It was said that this was not his first misdemeanour. Some said Dorf had received a large sum of money from him to hold his tongue and keep out of the way; others declared she had got the money. At the same time it got abroad that our house had difficulty in meeting its engagements. What more natural than that the scandal-mongers should put these two rumours together? Then, as Madam Dorf remained here in unmistakable poverty, people began to say that he had taken the money with him to America; and rumour made the sum larger and larger every day.

Lona.

And you, Karsten——?

Bernick.

I clutched at the rumour as a drowning man clutches at a straw.

Lona.

You helped to spread it?

Bernick.

I did not contradict it. Our creditors were beginning to press upon us; I had to quiet them—to prevent them from doubting the solidity of the firm. I let it be thought that a momentarymisfortune had befallen us, but that if people only refrained from pressing us—if they would only give us time—every one should be paid in full.

Lona.

And every onewaspaid in full?

Bernick.

Yes, Lona; that rumour saved our house and made me the man I am.

Lona.

A lie, then, has made you the man you are.

Bernick.

Whom did it hurt, then? Johan intended never to return.

Lona.

You ask whom it hurt? Look into yourself and see if it has not hurt you.

Bernick.

Look into any man you please, and you will find at leastonedark spot that must be kept out of sight.

Lona.

And you call yourselves pillars of society!

Bernick.

Society has none better.

Lona.

Then what does it matter whether such a society is supported or not? What is it that passes current here? Lies and shams—nothing else. Here are you, the first man in the town,prosperous, powerful, looked up to by every one—you, who have set the brand of crime upon an innocent man.

Bernick.

Do you think I do not feel deeply the wrong I have done him? Do you think I am not prepared to atone for it?

Lona.

How? By speaking out?

Bernick.

Can you ask me to do that?

Lona.

How else can you atone for such a wrong?

Bernick.

I am rich, Lona; Johan may ask for what he pleases——

Lona.

Yes, offer him money, and you’ll see what he will answer.

Bernick.

Do you know what he intends to do?

Lona.

No. Since yesterday he has said nothing to me. It seems as if all this had suddenly made a full-grown man of him.

Bernick.

I must speak to him.

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